How Jesus Prays For You (John 17:1-26) Series

Let's start this morning by reading John 13:1-5 (NRSV), and remind ourselves of where we are in the gospel of John:

Now, before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end/uttermost. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table,[a] took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

Jesus knows that his hour has come. Viewed from a lower, earthly, human level, this hour is going to be rough. Jesus is going to the cross. He's going to be killed as a criminal, and buried.

But viewed from above, this hour, is the hour of his glorification. Jesus will be lifted up-- 3 times. He will be lifted up, exalted, on the cross. He will be lifted up, raised up, from the grave. And he will ascend to heaven, to be with his Father.

Jesus, knowing all of this, for the last three chapters has loved his disciples to the uttermost. He has modeled what it looks like to serve others. He has called them to abide in him, to keep his commands, to love one another. He has given them promises-- that every prayer will be answered, that the Holy Spirit is coming, that the Father and the Son will come and make a home with them, and in them.

Now, in chapter 17, Jesus stops addressing his disciples, and turns toward his Father. But when he does this, we are supposed to realize, that this is part of how he loves his disciples to the uttermost. And when we read this, understand that part of how he loves you to the uttermost, is by praying this prayer to our Father, for you. This is what Jesus wants for you. And Jesus is the kind of Person, who receives what he asks for in prayer.

The first section of the prayer runs from verse 1-5. Let's read this, and then go back over it more slowly:

(1) These things Jesus said,

and lifting his eyes toward heaven, he said,

"Father, the hour has come.

Glorify/honor your son,

in order that the/your son would glorify/honor you,

(2) [just as/in as much as] you have given him authority over all flesh,

in order that everyone whom you have given him, he would give to them eternal life.

(3) Now, this is eternal life: that they would know you-- the only true God--

and whom you sent-- Jesus Christ.

(4) I glorified you on the earth,

the work completing that you gave to me, that I would do [it],

(5) and now glorify me, Father, in your own presence, with the glory that I had before the world existed in your own presence.

Verse 1:

(1) These things Jesus said,

and lifting his eyes toward heaven, he said,

"Father, the hour has come.

Glorify/honor your son,

in order that the/your son would glorify/honor you,

Jesus starts his prayer here by asking his Father to exalt him-- to glorify him. Jesus wants this, not as an end, but as a means to an end. If Jesus is glorified, this will result in his Father being glorified. And that's what he ultimately wants-- his Father to be honored, and glorified, and exalted.

This brings us to verse 2. The connection between verse 1 and 2 is a little tricky. There's not a nice way to translate it, and English Bibles clean it up one way or another (but maybe losing a little something in the process).

(2) [just as/in as much as] you have given him authority over all flesh,

in order that everyone whom you have given him, he would give to them eternal life.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus has already been given authority over all flesh (read John 5:19-29?). Jesus has the authority to give life to whoever he wishes (John 5:21). Jesus has the authority to judge everyone (John 5:22).

Because Jesus has this authority, he already has glory, and honor. Jesus is already the big deal. But now, Jesus asks for his ultimate glorification-- the glorification that comes through the cross, resurrection, and ascension. If God grants him this, then God will himself receive even greater glory/honor.

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Whitacre:

In verse 2 Jesus expands this request for glorification, though following his exact train of thought requires careful attention. According to the NIV, Jesus’ request for his glorification is grounded on (for) the authority that the Father already gave him over all people (pases sarkos, “all flesh”). But for (kathos) could also be translated “just as,” indicating that the previous granting of authority is not the grounds for the glorification, but, rather, comparable to the glorification. We will soon see reason to prefer this alternative.